Chapter 1288

」Three kings jointly rule the Yellow Shahe, and they have taken the Yi fruit, everyone, the tribal lords cannot sleep! 」

The words fell, and all was silent.

Outside the window, vines climbed the branches, sprouting from bird droppings, the banyan tree that had drilled out sent forth green shoots, coiling like a python, silently strangling the great tree, competing for nutrients.

Those present, the Entering Zhen Xiang, exchanged glances, looking at Xie Hongyu with eyes observing nose observing heart, and could not utter a word.

What could be done?

Beiting was generous enough, throwing out the Yi fruit, reclaiming Shuofang City, relieving the immediate crisis, stabilizing the domestic situation, Dashun redirected its focus, wholeheartedly governing the Yellow Shahe.

Zhang Longxiang and Liang Qu, two renowned enfeoffed kings.

Their "River Stone," plus a Dingxi King and a Bai Yuan King, now all gathered on the Yellow Shahe, distributed along upper, middle, and lower reaches, simultaneously working, like four subduing dragon nails, not only pinning down the Yellow Shahe but also pinning down their nerves.

Recently, spies sent to Dashun returned with news.

They said that by mid-year this year, Dashun had already reached a preliminary consensus with the three great demon kings within the Yellow Shahe: non-interference, non-disturbance, a scene of flourishing prosperity.

Especially downstream, Liang Qu joined forces with Bai Yuan, the river renovation was in full swing, bustling with activity.

Now Dashun is continuously piling up manpower and resources, intending to correct this great dragon of the Yellow Shahe, with an attitude of unprecedented firmness.

Could it truly be that we must watch helplessly as Dashun successfully governs the Yellow Shahe, finally fully prepared, calmly marching south and north?

Who would not want to watch helplessly, who would break the deadlock?

Beiting had just suffered great vitality loss, signed a peace agreement with Dashun, especially the border not reporting the Chilong Dragon, even if there were movements, they could respond in time, at least for several years, until before the Eastern Sea Great Hunt, no further action would be possible, unless the Eastern Sea gained a tremendous advantage.

Our southern borders — 【17】 Plague Demon Li Yuyi scanned the circle.

Plague Demon Li Yuqi swept his gaze around.

Of those present today, nearly half, about forty percent, are experts from Black Stone Forest, another twenty percent are from Water and Mist, the remaining six strongholds together make up less than forty percent, appearing not as a joint resolution but as listeners.

He could be certain that after this group obtained the information, they would return to inform their respective great elders, then do as they should.

After enduring half a year of chaos.

The southern borders, with great difficulty, selected a new tribal lord, precisely from the third of the three rear strongholds, Black Stone Forest.

However.

Just like the situation at the meeting, the new tribal lord is nominal, aside from the response of Water and Mist, also one of the three rear strongholds, the remaining six strongholds basically do not work.

Not long ago, with great difficulty, taking advantage of the new year's Insect Valley Festival, they distributed last year's Insect Valley Festival rewards, already rather awkward, worse still, the latest twenty-four demons have been dragging their feet without selection, the positions of Bone Demon and Heart-Eating Demon remain vacant.

Yet the more vacant, the more it shows that things have not passed.

A loose, scattered heap of sand.

Fully proving what is meant by having the will to kill thieves but lacking the power to turn heaven.

"Do you all really just watch like this, watch as Dashun governs the Yellow Shahe well? When Dashun nurtures its essence and sharpens its weapons, trains its troops, the first to bear the brunt will be the Dian, Ling, and Dong three strongholds!" Marshal Xue Han looked toward the last few at the meeting.

"Dian, Ling, and Dong have indeed suffered excessive casualties, truly helpless, if one really wants to oppose Dashun, the tribal lord should, from other strongholds, mobilize more great elders and Entering Zhen Xiang."

"In my view, we may not need to act, Dashun may not have the opportunity, the Eastern Sea Great Hunt, the Tian Long Chilong will certainly also participate, during which time, short half a year, long one year, taking this as a node, it will not be long before it is two sixty-year cycles.

Before and after, less than three years, the Yellow Shahe is not so easily changed, perhaps after great effort, the Yellow Sand Dragon King will manifest, angered by Dashun's meddling, again send forth great floods, they themselves will come to naught.

We should take this opportunity to also nurture essence and sharpen weapons, wait for the timing, perhaps there will be great achievements, I think the True Dragon Plan of the old tribal lord is quite good, should continue, although last time it was robbed once, but we cannot give up eating because of choking, the plan is good, this is no problem, waiting for the Lu Cang River to rise, advance can attack, retreat can defend, doing anything is convenient."

"The Yellow Shahe is a million li, the surface river thirty thousand li, from May to August, it has already sunk three thousand li, according to the same result, only two and a half years are needed to thoroughly solve it! There is simply no time to wait."

"Marshal, the surface river is merely the most prominent part of the Yellow Shahe problem, not the whole, otherwise Zhang Longxiang and the Dingxi King would not need to go to the upper and middle reaches."

"Why not wait two years and see? Beiting may not have anticipated Dashun's water governance speed being so fast, perhaps they have already regretted, let them panic first, act first, we will wait with ease."

"Beiting sent out the Yi fruit, leaving no backup at all? I do not believe it."

Seven tongues, eight tongues.

After suffering two great defeats, everyone leans toward conservatism.

"Now the southern borders and Beiting, both lack the strength to directly confront Dashun, this is already a fact, either secretly set some tripping obstacles to hinder the water governance progress, or seek methods from outside, find a third party, let Dashun be stretched thin. Multi-front warfare."

Plague Demon Li Yuyi raised his head, discovering that Xie Hongyu was also turning his head.

The speaker was Black Water Toxic Pregnancy Yan.

Since the death of one of the Twenty-Four Demons' son, similar meetings, Yan has never been absent.

Marshal Xue Han's eyes lit up: "How to set tripping obstacles, where is there a third party?"

Yan glanced around.

He did not feel that others could not think of it, merely today needed a bird to take the lead, he also did not care.

"Three directions, first, contact the Yellow Shahe demon kings, among the three kings, not necessarily all demon kings are willing to wholeheartedly follow Dashun, no need for direct hard battle, can readily offer some great elixirs of creation, secretly delay.

Second, the Dragon King lives far longer than ordinary Chilong, in the Eastern Sea, there must certainly be demon kings willing to become Dragon King, merely hindered by lack of means, not knowing how to proceed, and having no allies to help, thus dare not try.

Even if the demon kings do not wish, one can seek those demon kings whose lifespans are nearing end, the old tribal lord certainly has a more complete plan, a few words of talk, perhaps cannot turn back intent, especially the Jiao Long side, Huaijiang failure, Yellow Sand is also a destination.

Third, the Great Snow Mountain and overseas countries, all can, the Great Snow Mountain has close ties with Beiting, as just said, Beiting certainly also wants to block, they find it inconvenient to show themselves, often rely on the Great Snow Mountain, we only need to fan the flames.

The three combined, three-pronged approach, if successful, then however it will have seven or eight Chilong acting together, at this time the southern borders take advantage, Dashun must fail, if not successful, only two or three, giving Dashun trouble is more than enough."

A lengthy discussion.

The great figures' eyes flickered, hearts stirred.

The plan is a good plan.

But how can the demon kings of the Eastern Sea, the Great Snow Mountain, and overseas countries, for what reason, would white-white listen to you, serve as vanguard and collide head-on with Dashun? They are all those who do not see the rabbit and do not cast the hawk, who will provide the activity funds inside?

"Good! Not unworthy of Black Water Toxic, having insight! Penetrating to the core, but these three steps, step by step not simple, who can undertake them? Does Black Water Toxic have any candidates?" Xue Han stared at Yan.

Indeed so — 【57】 Seeking out the strongholds, persuading all sides, producing true gold and silver to support, undoubtedly is an offense-against-people task.

To seek out each stronghold, persuade all sides, and produce real silver and gold to support them—undoubtedly, it is a thankless task that offends people.

Drew a deep breath.

Yan had long anticipated: "Willing to try one time!"

"Grandfather, the new tribal lord's side indeed cannot wait, preparing to act against Dashun!" Xie Hongyu hurried back.

"How about it?"

"One, find an internal Demon King; two, find an external sea Demon King who wants to become the Dragon King, and leak Grandpa's method to any willing Demon King; three, contact the Great Snow Mountain or the overseas nations."

"Spoken quite logically. I see there is indeed a chance — at least the second option has a decent success rate. Didn't a flood dragon enter the Huaijiang just before? Only it was driven out by Bai Yuan a few years ago."

——

"Bai Yuan also has close ties with Dashun, which rather violates the taboo of water and land struggles not interfering with each other — just not out in the open. With that precedent, there are quite a few Demon Kings in the East Sea who are of great age————"

Old Tusi Xie Beidong focused his spirit: "A great contention unheard of in a thousand ages."

"Great contention?" Xie Hongyu was baffled. "Grandpa, although these past few years our three sides have indeed been fighting rather fiercely, it's not as fierce as when Daqian turned into Dashun, right?"

"No, not just that. A couple of days ago I went to seek out the Laozu Sect."

"Grandpa found the Laozu?" Xie Hongyu's eyes widened. "What did the Laozu Sect say?"

The Old Tusi did not answer: "A flood dragon being able to enter the Huaijiang is itself intricate and complex. Bai Yuan has close ties with Dashun, and the Huaijiang is Dashun's internal river. Conversely, an external sea Demon King gets our Southern Border's assistance but goes to the Yellow Shahe — they cannot be spoken of in the same breath. Moreover, a flood dragon traveling by water occupies the true dragon's lingering grace. Since ancient times, natural true dragons are many, made true dragons are few; substituting a peach for a plum — things are not that simple."

"Intricate and complex? Not that simple?" Xie Hongyu froze.

"Enough, let him go then." The Old Tusi sighed. "Now it's become the Luchang River; I'm afraid it will end up making a wedding dress for someone else. Direct selection it is — slow as it may be."

"Grandpa, what are you talking about?"

Xie Hongyu understood less and less.

How did it suddenly become 'let him go'?

The rat waved a banana-leaf fan, stirring a cool breeze.

Bai Awei picked up a grape with his jointed limbs and delivered it to the scarlet-gold centipede's mouthparts; after the female centipede peeled it clean, it fell into his own mouth.

"Ah ah ah, are you kidding? Why do we have to pay again? Isn't Black Stone Forest rich? They've been hiding in the back the whole time, hardly anyone died. This year's Insect Valley Festival reward is only one strand of Long Qi — stingy as hell. Where does all the money collected every year go? Could it be the Tusi ate it all!"

"You child, don't talk nonsense."

"Grandma, I'm not talking nonsense." Li Xianghan set her hands on her hips. "Only seeing outflows, no inflows — how can one not be suspicious?"

Li Yilin said helplessly: "This expenditure is for use outside."

Li Xianghan smelled the scent of intelligence. Just as Bai Awei opened and closed his mouthparts, rolling his eyeballs, she asked: "Outside, what outside? Which outside? The new Tusi's kept outer residence? He's raised tens of thousands — why would he need that much?"

"Hahaha, you child, such words must not be spoken outside."

"Aiyo, Grandma, my good Grandma, why can't I say it? I promise I won't tell a third person, not even the rat!"

Li Xianghan hugged Li Yilin's arm and shook it, rubbing her cheek against it. Her heel kicked lightly; Bai Awei flew up in advance. The whole table tilted sideways. The rats holding banana leaves rolled round and round off the table, *putong putong* falling into the trash bin.

Li Xianghan hugged Li Yilin's arm and shook it, her cheek rubbing back and forth, her heel lightly kicking, Bai Awei flew up in advance, the whole desk tilted and lifted, the mice holding banana leaves rolled round and round off the table, plopping into the trash can.

"Aiyoo————"

Li Yilin, shaken until she couldn't take it, patted her granddaughter's forehead: "Alright alright, shake any more and you'll vomit up lunch. Just this once — you must not tell anyone————"

"Rest assured, Grandma. I never step out the main gate or the second gate. There's no woman in all the world more obedient than me. Even if I wanted to tell, there's no one to tell. Hurry up, hurry up———— My mouth is both sweet and tight!"

Li Yilin lowered her voice: "It's still the Dashun side — messing with the Yellow Shahe. This is serious. If it actually succeeds"

Bai Awei landed on the stand, nodding from time to time.

The river wind vast and rushing, sleeves fluttering.

Liang Qu announced his name, arms crossed, head tilted back forty-five degrees, ready to receive awe — but the expected "wow" never came. From the corner of his eye he only saw Wen Wen Shi Yun's mouth corner twitch. Instantly displeased.

"What's with that expression? Look down on my method?"

"No no, I think highly of it, I think highly of it. Master, a Martial Saint at thirty — a technique you derived yourself is definitely number one under heaven. Countless people would fight to learn it and can't."

"No, no, I see it, I see it, Master is a thirty-level Martial Saint, the technique I developed myself must be the best in the world, so many people fight to learn it but can't."

"Just feel the name Master gave the technique is pretty ordinary."

"Ordinary?" Liang Qu flew into a rage. "Eying gave it to me. She thinks the name is good, yet you actually think it's ordinary? Ten years in the academy — hasn't your aesthetic cultivation improved even a tiny bit?"

"You yourself said it's my Shiniang who thinks it's good. What doesn't my Shiniang think is good about you? You drag a stool over and sit there picking your feet, and my Shiniang thinks it's graceful and unrestrained."

"You said it was my wife who thought it was good, my wife finds nothing bad about you, you move a stool to sit here and pick your feet, my wife thinks you're elegant and unrestrained."

"'My wife's praise of me is selfish of her' — isn't that a line you hang on your lips teaching me every day? I feel 'Huaijue' sounds better than 'Huaijing'. Why not change it?"

"My wife's beauty is mine, this is private, don't you say this to me every day? I feel the 'Huai Wang Jue' sounds better than the 'Huai Wang Jing', why not change it?"

The fat fish looked up, saw it wasn't the old toad, and kept working.

"Don't, Master! 'Huaijing' — this name is too cool! It matches your heroic, extraordinary, handsome, and carefree looks exactly. It has to be called this to make your disciple want to learn the moment he sees it!"

"Hmph, fawning after being rude! A real man — when wealthy cannot be corrupted, when poor cannot be swayed, when mighty cannot be bent! Punishment: copy it eight hundred times!"

"Understood, Master! I'll copy it later!"

Liang Qu and Wen Wen Shi Yun shouted and hollered. Monkeys circled around them, jumping up and down along with them.

Long Eying laughed behind them — big child and little child.

"Alright, don't know who he learned it from." Liang Qu waved, summoning the 【Tengbing】, and plopped down. "How's the 'Xingqi Ming' coming along?"

"Alright, I don't know who you learned that from." Liang Qu waved his hand to summon the 【Vine Soldiers】, sat down with a thump, "How's the practice of the 'Qi Circulation Inscription' going?"

"Run through it once for me to see."

"As ordered!"

Circulating Qi is an extremely dangerous matter, and also a task of considerable difficulty.

Normal aristocratic offspring with the means all choose to first cultivate a simple, upright, and harmonious technique, laying a foundation for a period of time, serving as 'childhood merit'.

At minimum a few months, at maximum counted in years — usually the process from bone pass to blood pass.

First the 'Xingqi Ming', then the 'Wansheng Baoyuan' — this was also Liang Qu's own path.

Wen Wen Shi Yun, as a clan grandson, has half-martial bones by nature, and his comprehension is likewise not bad. The dark-wood root Liang Qu gave in the past could help the child awaken wisdom; he still wears it around his neck to this day. However you look at it, he's a little genius — quite effective.

"Not bad. This technique — I created it originally, so naturally it suits me extremely well. But unless one creates it oneself, no outsider's technique fits oneself perfectly, ten out of ten. Whether it suits you, I also don't know.

So starting today, I give you three months. If you cultivate something presentable, we grandfather and grandson continue. If you can't cultivate it out, I'll pass you Grandmaster's 'Wansheng Baoyuan' anew. In the future you might likewise be able to innovate from it."

So starting today, I'm giving you three months; if you can cultivate something noteworthy, the two of us will carry on, but if you can't, I'll pass down your Grandmaster's "Wansheng Baoyuan" to you anew, and perhaps in the future you can likewise innovate from it.

"Disciple understands!"

"Good, next I'll transmit the heart method to you, the basic introductory part, you memorize it well————"

Wen Wen Shi Yun took out paper and brush, copied earnestly, asked about some cultivation method confusions and explanations, under Liang Qu's gaze, attempted circulating Qi to cultivate for the first time.

"Right right right, not bad————maintain the state, you already have three-tenths of my aptitude, you cultivate well, I'll go treat the water first, if there are problems don't blindly experiment on your own."

All usable resources exhausted, all matters that should be done handled, the next two days, Liang Qu's days passed quite "by the book".

Evenings teaching Wen Wen Shi Yun, days rushing sand to treat water, the Dao alchemy masters stayed on the boat discussing and studying, occasionally coming to find him to ask about some absorption issues.

Until————

Boom—!

The river crashed against the riverbed, carrying clods of earth and grass debris swirling in midair, smashing down yellow water, water mist forming a delicate rainbow.

"The Southern Border United Demon Kings giving Great Shun a stumbling block?"

Liang Qu stopped controlling the water, listened attentively.

The spirit link kept pulsing, the Mo Xia water beast transmitting secret information.

"Winning over the Yellow Sand Demon King, allying with the Outer Sea Demon King, running around the Nine Villages raising activity funds————"

Liang Qu's eyebrows rose in delight.

The reward able to move Demon Kings to act and contend, at minimum must be a Creation-grade Great Elixir as base, right?

Isn't this just a disguised bribe?

"Bribe, no, when will the funds arrive? Which route are they taking?"